Forty Thieves · Game rules

Single Spark

Also known as Simple Spark

Goal

Move all cards to the foundations.

At a glance

Like The Spark, but with only one deck and eight tableau piles.

Base game rules: The Spark

Goal

Move all cards to the foundations.

How to play

Twelve cards are dealt into twelve tableau piles. These piles are built up by suit. Only one card can be moved at a time. Any card can be used to fill empty piles in the tableau. Eight foundation piles are built down by same suit, starting from the kings.

Cards from the talon are dealt to two waste piles, three cards at a time to each. The top card from either waste pile can be moved to a tableau or foundation pile. The game is won if all the cards are moved to the foundation piles.

New to solitaire? A few useful terms
Tableau
The main playing area, usually arranged in columns or piles.
Foundation
A destination where cards are collected in the order required by the game.
Stock / talon
Cards waiting to be dealt. A game may allow one pass or several.
Waste
A pile receiving cards turned over from the stock.
Reserve / cell
A holding area. Its capacity and movement rules depend on the game.
Redeal
Another pass through the stock or a redistribution of cards, as specified in that game’s rules.

Game-rule reference adapted from PySolFC documentation, licensed under GPL v3 or later. References describe the game’s mechanics.